Why did you start collecting people’s photographs? Did something specific inspire you? 

I was looking for a creative outlet and photography piqued my interest. I bought a DSLR camera and thought I would just photograph cars. I love cars. I went to a couple auto shows and it just felt kind of bland and easy. I really wanted to push my creative boundaries and get uncomfortable. I put the camera away for a few years and came across some really amazing street photography books (The Americans by Robert Frank and It’s All Good by Boogie). I also found some street photographers on Instagram (Trevor Wisecup, Daniel Arnold) that inspired me. Not just the images but what it takes to walk up to a stranger you find interesting and simply take their picture. I traded the DSLR for an old film camera (a used Nikon D3400) and the rest was history. I fell in love with the analog feel of the camera. I loved shooting an entire roll of film and having no idea if any of the pictures are even good. It hardly mattered. I was absorbed in walking through new places, seeing the world through a different lens, and noticing people and moments that might otherwise go unseen. 

What was the first photograph you ever collected?   

The first person I captured was a bouncer at a bar in London. I asked if I could take his picture. I was blown away when he said “Why?” I did not run through that scenario in my head. I had imagined people just saying yes or no. The first thing that came out of my mouth was “Because you look sick!” He laughed and we began talking. I’d snap photos throughout the conversation. Perfect focus? No. Perfect exposure? No. It didn’t matter. 

What makes you decide, “This is someone I want to talk to”?  

Some people look more approachable than others. You usually get the best conversation and story out of the ones that look unapproachable.  

How do people usually react when you ask to photograph them? 

There have been times where I will take someone’s picture without asking and they get confrontational, which is understandable. I have to talk to them which sometimes can end in a great conversation. Sometimes I get cussed out. Most people say nothing, like it didn’t even happen. I would rather take the picture and ask for forgiveness than ask for permission most of the time.  

What’s one of the most surprising or memorable stories you’ve captured?  

One of my most memorable conversations was with Johnny Chess. His life has been full of ups and downs. The one constant in his life has been chess. He is not a Grandmaster and will never claim to be. His edge is purely psychological. The trash talk and deliberate mistakes to make the opponent feel comfortable. Johnny said he never fleeced beginners because it was bad karma. He wants to take money from the finance bros and cocky tourists who only played online. He is intense and disarming at the same time. Total legend. 

What have you learned about people through doing this?  

It sounds cliche, but don’t judge a book by its cover. We have all heard it a million times. Hearing it and experiencing it are two different things. 

How does it feel knowing you’re preserving these little pieces of human experience?  

I will be the first to admit that this is a selfish pursuit. I’m not creating a photo book or posting these images. It’s really not even about the pictures. It’s about getting out of my comfort zone and having conversations with people that would have scared my 10-year-old self. By doing that, I have gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. 

Why do you think storytelling connects people so deeply?  

It gives you the opportunity to see life from a different perspective. To find something in common with people who would not normally be in your circle. You leave those conversations with the same feeling you get when you are walking out of a good movie. It’s the feeling of having been changed to a half-degree. Most of the time, it’s not enough to explain, but enough that you notice the world differently for a little while.